Brian Pirman (Art) (left) with Adil M. Al-Fahad at the "Q & A with the Art Faculty" program.

On the home page: Marjorie Mau, adjunct professor of art.

October 2010

ARTHURSDAY explores creative careers

Few art majors head to college planning to become tattoo artists or artisanal cheese shop owners. But it helps to think outside the box when it comes to future careers, because the need for art and good design is everywhere. To encourage art students to broaden their horizons, art faculty have created ARTHURSDAY, a new program that debuts this semester.

ARTHURSDAY offers art students the opportunity to venture into the community most Thursday evenings to meet and chat with a variety of local and regional art professionals – photographers, floral arrangers, designers and ad agency employees. Some of the professionals will conduct portfolio critiques, too.

The Rev. Jim Neilson, O.Praem., ’88 (Art), who instituted the program, says, “We wanted to give our students every possible way to imagine themselves as artists and creative people.”

Like becoming a tattoo artist, for example. One of the spring sessions will involve a visit with Rick Harnowski of Green Bay’s Skin Illustrations Inc. One of the top tattoo artists in the nation, Harnowski considers himself an illustrator and has the same concerns as any artist when creating his tattoos: composition, drawing and color.

Another stop on the schedule is Nala’s Fromagerie, where students will enjoy a cheese tasting while they learn about the shop from owner and connoisseur Alan Trick.

Brian Pirman (Art), who previously worked as a graphic designer in Chicago, is looking forward to the trip to the Karma Group on Oct. 14. The advertising agency is one of the best in town, he says, and just moved into a new facility.

“If it’s anything like their old place, it’ll really be something special to see,” he says, noting that it’s critical for creative people to be in an inspiring environment – and that it’s important for students to see and recognize that.

Pirman is also excited the students will have the chance for portfolio reviews because they’re currently critiqued solely by the art faculty. “It’s always good to have as many professional opinions as possible,” he says.

Art faculty members say the trips also create an esprit de corps among the students and help boost their collective self-worth. Says Bill Bohné (Art), “It’ll be great if they go to one of these places and realize as a group that, oh yeah, we can do that!”